I liked Tea's return because she was combative, she took no nonsense, her scenes with Todd were more about telling him to get himself together, even though she obviously still had feelings for him. Now they're back to Tea degrading herself for a sociopath, which I don't believe works as well as the degradation with Roger's Todd because she had much stronger chemistry with Roger.

Just BS filler today. I don't feel like anything happened, really.

Jared was hot shirtless, but his nipples were pointy and distracting today.

I did wonder if he and Natalie were going to compare bust sizes... but I admire that John Brotherton is fit and attractive without being nauseatingly ripped (like, say, Cameron Mathison)...

However, there is something that bugs me: Does ABC have some weird policy about "ZERO chest hair on shirtless scenes?" (Maybe it's called "The Mathison Clause!") Brotherton has a somewhat hairy chest that we can usually see around his collar... But the shirt comes off, and he's as smoothe as a baby's bottom - unless we're counting the heavily applied body make-up that was only minimally camouflaging the rash-marks left behind from the chest-waxing.

The same thing happened with Scott Clifton (Schuyler)... and on AMC, with Vincent Irizzary (David). I mean, I know we don't want the guys to look like Wildebeasts! But we can't just trim to look neater? Is it a given that no one in Pennsylvania has body hair?

Ok, my two cents... or two folicles.

I did wonder if he and Natalie were going to compare bust sizes... but I admire that John Brotherton is fit and attractive without being nauseatingly ripped (like, say, Cameron Mathison)...

However, there is something that bugs me: Does ABC have some weird policy about "ZERO chest hair on shirtless scenes?" (Maybe it's called "The Mathison Clause!") Brotherton has a somewhat hairy chest that we can usually see around his collar... But the shirt comes off, and he's as smoothe as a baby's bottom - unless we're counting the heavily applied body make-up that was only minimally camouflaging the rash-marks left behind from the chest-waxing.

The same thing happened with Scott Clifton (Schuyler)... and on AMC, with Vincent Irizzary (David). I mean, I know we don't want the guys to look like Wildebeasts! But we can't just trim to look neater? Is it a given that no one in Pennsylvania has body hair?

Ok, my two cents... or two folicles.

Maybe it's just the women that have body hair.

I did wonder if he and Natalie were going to compare bust sizes... but I admire that John Brotherton is fit and attractive without being nauseatingly ripped (like, say, Cameron Mathison)...

However, there is something that bugs me: Does ABC have some weird policy about "ZERO chest hair on shirtless scenes?" (Maybe it's called "The Mathison Clause!") Brotherton has a somewhat hairy chest that we can usually see around his collar... But the shirt comes off, and he's as smoothe as a baby's bottom - unless we're counting the heavily applied body make-up that was only minimally camouflaging the rash-marks left behind from the chest-waxing.

The same thing happened with Scott Clifton (Schuyler)... and on AMC, with Vincent Irizzary (David). I mean, I know we don't want the guys to look like Wildebeasts! But we can't just trim to look neater? Is it a given that no one in Pennsylvania has body hair?

Ok, my two cents... or two folicles.

I wonder why they don't make TSJ wax. He's looks like Wolfman. I like a little hair on my men (chestwise -- backs, no!).

Nobody should touch TSJ's hair. I love it.

Viki and Charlie and Natalie and Jared were on today? <perks up>

What I was referring to was that apparently Todd yells at Tea to get on her knees and beg him and somehow that turns her on?

No I'm sorry I meant in comparison to today's scenes only.

I think there is more than one factor to consider. RC is a gifted storyteller and as such I understand why he is vigorously defended. Daytime needs gifted storytellers and Llanview certainly deserved it. At the same time, chyti has a relevant point. It is very selective to suggest that RC is only responsible for the stories we like watching and that Frons is responsible for what we don't like.

I also think that it is unfair to compare pre-strike RC to post-strike RC. Pre-strike RC took over the reigns and spent a few months transitioning the show from Higley's domain over to his vision. It is understandable that he would yield different results during that phase than what we are seeing right now. RC was impressive but I wonder if it was easier to see what needed to be corrected when had to repair someone else's vision other than his own?

I'm guessing that Frons interfered to some degree but the fact of the matter is that the job of the Head Writer is to strike that balance in pleasing the network (Frons) and also guiding his vision into the capable hands of his team who should be working to please the audience. I have every confidence it will improve but we'll have to realize that RC like any other Head Writer before him will have good stories and bad stories.

Excellent points Harlemblues. A HW's job IS to find that happy balance. I also agree that every HW has had bad storylines, even the great Marland and Nixon. But the one thing I don’t understand with OLTL is the inconsistency. And by that I mean after the strike the show was on FIRE. The spoilers we were given from May right up till the Anniversary episode were spot on but after that spoilers hinted and commercials showed scenes of a Jess /Cris/Antonio redo but they never made it to our screens. Post Anniversary was a low point IMO. Then in November the show morphed again and was good right up to January and then it regressed back again. One thing I have to give RC credit for is his use of Vets, but the last couple of months have been newbie central, which doesn’t ring true to me. I think Frons is not only rejecting storylines but he’s dictating them as well. I think that maybe the reason why RC can’t find that happy medium. The storylines are not his ideas, so he doesn’t fully understand them or the characters motivation for their actions because there not planned out. It’s not his vision so he can’t relay the message down. When things are coming at you from left field and changing at the whims of others it’s hard to write good stories. If anyone is to blame, I’d lay it at FV’s feet. He needs to step up to bat and fight for his and his HW’s vision.

I really like Destiny.

Ugh I hate Destiny and hate that it looks like she has more of a story coming up

Actually she did. When we last saw Pamela Stuart, Dorian had paid her to back up her claims about Jared not being a Buchanan. I remember her looking at Jared and telling him "sorry kid." Then Dorian told her she had a limo to escort her out of Llanview, and Pamela walked out the door.

I'm so stupid I didn't mean Pamela I meant that other woman... the one who was sniffing around Clint and who's played by Bo's real life wife... What happened to her?>

I thought Dallas returned to London?

I did wonder if he and Natalie were going to compare bust sizes... but I admire that John Brotherton is fit and attractive without being nauseatingly ripped (like, say, Cameron Mathison)...

However, there is something that bugs me: Does ABC have some weird policy about "ZERO chest hair on shirtless scenes?" (Maybe it's called "The Mathison Clause!") Brotherton has a somewhat hairy chest that we can usually see around his collar... But the shirt comes off, and he's as smoothe as a baby's bottom - unless we're counting the heavily applied body make-up that was only minimally camouflaging the rash-marks left behind from the chest-waxing.

The same thing happened with Scott Clifton (Schuyler)... and on AMC, with Vincent Irizzary (David). I mean, I know we don't want the guys to look like Wildebeasts! But we can't just trim to look neater? Is it a given that no one in Pennsylvania has body hair?

Ok, my two cents... or two folicles.

HAHA I said it on the Hunks thread but I'll say it again--I think the soaps are behind the times when it comes to chest hair. It's true we haven't reverted back to the 70s--and I admit I have a thing for chest hair (prob cuz I'm fairly hairy and gave up long ago on the idea of waxing--) but with my generation and in fashion and eslewhere moderate chesthair (at least fiarly natural looking) is in. Yet the soaps (and not just the ABC ones though they, and NBC, seem to be the worse) still seem to FORCE their men to wax. Brody seems to be allowed to get away with VERY closely trimmed chest (yes I pay too much attention) and the older guys who aren't super fit and are rarely shown shirtless have they dont' seem to worry about but otherwise it's like a gay 80s porno and seems hopelessly out of date with what's "in" no to me. Even As the World turns the Z twin Zach had a shirtless scene and was smooth as a baby's butt and his website has TONS of shirtless pics of him in plays and natural family pics and he's almost as hairy as I am--so either the show told him or he did it himself--completely waxed for a 3 minute scene...

It actually really irks me but I don't like the completely waxed look at all it looks like a Ken doll to me.

I thought Dallas returned to London?

I didn't remember an actual exit scene or mention but she must have--what a useless use of her.

Even if Frons is dictating storyline which I believe he is and has been doing for awhile even during Highley's reign, isn't Ron the one scripting it. I can't understand how it is so easy to excuse the actual writers for what is being shown. Are your suggesting that Frons is actually writing some of this stuff?

And to tell the truth I wasn't all that impressed with OLTL pre-strike either, there were alot of misses during that time.

It's called McTavish syndrome--at AMC during her last run everytime something happened peopel actually liked the majority ofpeople on here would suddenly claim they were sure Agnes Nixon or someone else was ghost writing LOL. Frons has had a heavy hand at least since when Malone and griffith were last writing and Griffith even SAID he left because of not beign allowed to tell the stories he wanted to tell.

Excellent points Harlemblues. A HW's job IS to find that happy balance. I also agree that every HW has had bad storylines, even the great Marland and Nixon. But the one thing I don’t understand with OLTL is the inconsistency. And by that I mean after the strike the show was on FIRE. The spoilers we were given from May right up till the Anniversary episode were spot on but after that spoilers hinted and commercials showed scenes of a Jess /Cris/Antonio redo but they never made it to our screens. Post Anniversary was a low point IMO. Then in November the show morphed again and was good right up to January and then it regressed back again. One thing I have to give RC credit for is his use of Vets, but the last couple of months have been newbie central, which doesn’t ring true to me. I think Frons is not only rejecting storylines but he’s dictating them as well. I think that maybe the reason why RC can’t find that happy medium. The storylines are not his ideas, so he doesn’t fully understand them or the characters motivation for their actions because there not planned out. It’s not his vision so he can’t relay the message down. When things are coming at you from left field and changing at the whims of others it’s hard to write good stories. If anyone is to blame, I’d lay it at FV’s feet. He needs to step up to bat and fight for his and his HW’s vision.

Harlemblues AND you are both spot on i think (your comments go for AMC as well IMHO even though they haven'thad anyone as good as Carlavati for a while). A HW IS meant to strike that right balance between what they are told to write (or the kinds of things) and being able to do their own thing--but Frons is making that, it's obviously apparant, difficult for everyone. Really the role he does should be done by the EP but EPs under him have little power. I will disagree with you OLTL1, I don't think Valentini deserves much blame--the crew and cast seem to adore him, it seems Carlavati wouldn'thave even gotten his job or kept it without him and them getting along so well--sure he needs to step in more and defend his HWs (as do all the EPs at ABC right now under Frons) but I don't think he really objectively CAN. Frons won't let him.

I wonder why they don't make TSJ wax. He's looks like Wolfman. I like a little hair on my men (chestwise -- backs, no!).

Really? I always thougth he had only a fair amount of chest hair and never noticed any on his back... hrmm he takes off his shirt so rarely (I've heard that's a request of the actor) anyway... any photographic proof? I'm curious